Nellore: Medical service charges likely to go up due to Covid-19 norms

Nellore: Henceforth, consulting charges to get services of a doctor may become costlier in the city as doctors and citizens have to follow additional expenditure to follow Covid-19 protocols.

Senior doctors who run individual clinics are planning to hike consultation charges as they have to incur expenditure on PPE kits, face masks, gloves and sanitisers to the visiting patients.

Till now, doctors have been simply engaging some nurses or male attendants at the clinics for maintaining OP register, collecting fees from the patients and to maintain queue lines.

But the situation now changed with Covid-19 spread. The doctor has to wear fresh PPE every day. All staff have to wear face masks, gloves, and use sanitisers.

They also have to supply sanitisers to the patients before entering the doctor's chamber. Further, they should clean the premises with disinfectant solution.

"Doctors are now collecting between Rs. 200-500 as consultation fee in the city. Experienced doctors are treating between 70-80 patients per day in the morning and evening sessions.

Earlier they were spending only on staff salaries and routine expenditure like power. ``Now, additionally, we have to spend on disinfecting the premises and for following protocols,'' said a senior physician in the city.

Some corporate hospitals are providing telemedicine by charging Rs. 700-750 per single session. These clinics are also considering to increase the consultation fees.

"Majority doctors are aged between 50-55 and they are prone to virus infection from the patients at the time of examining. So, they should follow Covid -19 guidelines,'' said a dental surgeon.